Tearooms Offer a Genteel Oasis in These Overheated Times
Twelve years ago, I departed corporate life in fast-paced Singapore to open my tearoom in deepest Wiltshire, England. My reasons were varied: to do something I loved, to be able to walk to work, and to be engaged in something resoundingly ‘English’, a true antidote on all counts to corporate life in Asia.
I have since come to realise the very special place tearooms hold in our hearts, not only as an antidote to fast-paced places, but maybe also as a balm to the crazy world in which we now find ourselves. As I do, my thoughts turn to why? Why is it that this simple combination of tea, cakes, homemade food, and hospitality has always played such a calming role in many of our lives, from post-war Lyons teahouses of London through to the charming myriad of tearooms here in my adopted home of New Jersey?
Sure, Camelia sinensis is at the core of it. This single strain of evergreen leaf has served as the ingredient in everything we call ‘tea’ for thousands of years, whether a fragrant Earl Grey, a light-as-a-feather white tea, a robust and smoky Lapsang, or even just our morning breakfast cup. They all come from the same source at heart, and in that fact lies a recognition that there is something common in all tea, whatever its variety, hue, or taste. I am reminded of a friend who has just launched a self-discovery service based on the concept of ‘what tea might I be’, recognising the personality of different teas and how they can reflect us individually, but also recognising what we all, in truth, have in common as well: that single leaf.
But what actually makes a tearoom? The recipe begins with the tea, of course, and with that the widest variety, which we purists assert must be loose leaf. This is essential for flavour, but also to just slow us down a little. Loose leaf takes longer, it can’t be rushed, and so you will find in many great tearooms timers alongside the tea to remind us that good things take time. Recent years have seen many of us with the unexpected luxury of more time, maybe appreciating its value a little more. But now, as we find ourselves at risk of living faster than ever, what better way to be reminded of the value of time than a pot of tea that can be rushed by no one?
Beyond this, the recipes that comprise a tearoom may vary, but will always include cake, scones, cream, crafted sandwiches, and, sometimes, other food. These combinations often culminate in that grand, theatrical, and shared celebration of the tearoom: the ‘Afternoon Tea’, designed to be shared and savoured slowly with friends.
But here comes the main ingredient. I know this tearoom business fairly well, and I know that to work best the offerings really need to be—and so often are—homemade. As a result, you will find that almost every tearoom is a ‘one-off’ independent, each with someone at its heart, passionate with their recipes. They will be dedicated to the best ingredients and quality and, so importantly, usually physically on site to see that every element of what they pour their heart into is perfect. Where there is that much passion and commitment, the hospitality that follows is as inevitable as clotted cream following a scone.
So, yes, a tearoom is about the tea, the cakes, and the food, but more than that it’s about the hospitality which comes from a passion for creating great tastes and experiences. A hospitality that is gracious and infectious and makes calm time and space to meet, to be social; to spend time with friends, relaxing, and to slowly share in what has been created with love. Then resetting a little, so that maybe the chaos and craziness outside will seem a little less important when we finally step back out into the real world.
A SAMPLING OF NEW JERSEY’S GREAT TEAROOMS:
The Lizzie Rose
217 E. Main St., Tuckerton
609.358.0002
thelizzierose.net
Located in a restored 1846 Victorian in the heart of historic Tuckerton, this tearoom offers traditional tea service as well as vegan and gluten-free options. Don’t miss the second-floor vintage gift shop, too.
Mathis House Tea Room
600 Main St., Toms River
732.818.7580
mathishouse600main.com
With its crisp linens, fine china, and plethora of antiques, this charming tearoom is sure to transport you. If you’re looking for even more of a getaway, book a stay. The beautiful historic Victorian mansion also serves as a bed-and-breakfast.
Sally Lunn’s Tea Shoppe
15 Perry St., Chester
908.879.7731
sallylunns.com
Offering to titillate your tastebuds with secret-recipe scones and ‘sinful’ desserts, this homey haven offers more than a huge range of tea. It’s the go-to place for your fix of English chocolate!
Teaberry’s Tea Room
2 Main St., Flemington
908.788.1010
teaberrys.com
This beautiful Victorian building houses a tearoom that’s truly a home away from home, with loose-leaf teas and tearoom fare served on vintage china in several of its rooms. Wonderfully reminiscent of the parlours of yesteryear.
Tipple and Rose Tea Parlour and Apothecary
210 Nassau St., Princeton
609.303.0277
tippleandrose.com
A truly eclectic tearoom with a passion for tea extending to the health-giving benefits, alongside creative food, cakes, and scones. Don’t miss the extensive retail gift shopping opportunity once you have had your fill!
AND IN PA….
The Talking Teacup
301 W. Butler Ave., Chalfont, PA
215.997.8441
thetalkingteacup.com
This exclusive tearoom just over the border in PA is a favourite of mine. Reservations are essential and, at the moment, only available Wednesday to Sunday. Home baked cakes and great high tea options in a cozy surrounding with great hospitality make you feel like you’re in your own ‘front room’.
Have a favourite tearoom in New Jersey to share? Email us at info@ediblejersey.com
